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Greed for money and "success" often trumps humane business practices. Yet Gary Winegar of Griffis/Blessing here in Colorado Springs states in an article that his company would not treat older people this way. This doesn't have to happen!!

On Veterans Day, my wife and I decided to visit one of Colorado Springs' restaurants that offered a free hamburger platter to vets. During the meal, our server came over with an envelope; he told us that a local school made cards to be given to veterans. So I'd like to offer my thanks to the young girl who made my card.

Emma, thank you. I do like your card. I've served for 42 years both active duty and as a civilian and I think your card is the nicest "thank you" I've gotten in that time. All the medals and promotions I've gotten in that time pale next to your card to "Dyr Vetren." I'm proud to be your "Dyr Vetren". I and the other veterans and active duty soldiers, sailors, and airmen here in Colorado Springs thank you for your recognition. There are almost 11 million veterans in the United States, and it's thanks like yours that makes it all worthwhile. Because that's what we did and what we do. We protect little girls and boys like you so that there can be another generation of Americans enjoying the freedom we kept for you. We will indeed keep our world free.

Now for all those parents out there, while you may be thinking about those of us whom you know, serving, veterans, and retired, I ask you to think of our brothers and sisters that aren't doing too well. Sadly, they're out there on the streets with little recourse. Maybe they don't know what's available to help them. Maybe they can't ask for help. All I ask you is that you do something, some little thing, to make their lives a little more bearable. Because they are also Emma's "Dyr Vetrens".

Timothy K. Roberts. Lt. Col., USAF (retired)

Peyton

School's performance exemplary

I was invited by one of the principals of West Middle School, Shalah Parker Sims, to make remarks reflecting my senor military service and later volunteer work on behalf of Old Colorado City to hundreds of young students at an assembly on the occasion of Veterans Day - an annual school event.

I arrived early and had a chance to sit in the administrative office and observe the very, very busy day with kids, parents, staff and visitors coming and going.

The event attended by at least 400 young students went off without a hitch. But as someone who as a senior staff assistant at busy Fort Carson headquarters, decades ago I came away very very impressed with the professionalism of everyone I met or observed all day - from janitors to professional staff. If that reflects the administrative performance of schools in District 11, both our young and taxpayers are well-served indeed.

David R. Hughes (Col.) (retired)

Colorado Springs

Examples don't constitute proof

In the Nov. 8 issue of The Gazette, columnist Scott Weiser writes in support of an armed citizenry. His column is clearly written anadmind avoids the obvious pitfalls of specious argument until he gets to the final two sentences. He praises the two men who pursued and wounded the shooter at the church in Texas and states, "Both incidents prove that armed citizens are a benefit to the community and that contrary to the protestations of gun haters, armed citizens are not trigger-happy yahoos looking for a reason to shoot someone. They are very careful to use their firearms appropriately."

In addition to characterizing those who disagree with him as "gun haters," he ascribes an attitude to them that is a sweeping and inaccurate generalization. While examples can be used to put faces to statistics, the examples do not constitute proof. There are as many examples of irresponsible gun usage as there are examples of armed citizens using their firearms appropriately.

On Dec. 23, 2013, a Colorado Springs man mistook his 14-year-old stepdaughter for a burglar and shot and killed her. On May 17, 2012, two armed robbers burst into a Family Dollar Store in Houston. They locked the front door and put a gun to the head of store clerk Tyrza Smith. According to reports, Smith was cooperating with the robbers when a customer who had tried to leave but found the door locked pulled a handgun and got into a gunfight with the robbers. In the confusion, Smith was caught in the crossfire and killed. No one was injured. The customer had a concealed carry permit, and according to ballistics, he was the one who killed Tyrza Smith.

Both incidents prove that armed citizens are not a benefit to the community, and they are not very careful to use their firearms appropriately. Does that sound familiar? This argument parallels Weiser's, and the problem is that both cite examples, but examples alone are not acceptable forms of proof. Statistics gleaned from reputable sources can be fleshed out and personalized with appropriate examples, but the examples prove nothing. It is time for everyone to become more discerning about the information we choose to believe.

Laurence Wutt

Woodland Park

Exposing children to the real world

Must we have to hear the details of the many sexual assaults of Hollywood types and politicians on the evening newscasts? This is the time when families are gathered together fixing dinner, doing homework, and having the TV tuned into the evening news.